Today, I heard some one say what I have considered idiotic for a Lawyer. This person was pondering under what authority the state of Texas removed those 400 plus children from the mothers of that polygamous sect.
The following information was taken from the Texas Department Of Protective Services web site.
“The law requires CPS to notify law enforcement agencies of all reports of alleged abuse or neglect. The law enforcement agency determines, separate from CPS, whether to conduct a criminal investigation and whether a criminal violation occurred. You can contact the local law enforcement agency if you have questions about a criminal investigation. You can also contact local law enforcement if you feel that a false report has been made against you.”
I think this previous quote explains under what authority law enforcement in Texas can investigate child abuse allegations.
This person, lawyer, was reporting on how the person who called the child abuse hotline could be a 33 year old woman with history of making false allegations. The knowledge of a possible false child abuse allegation was after the fact.
When the original call was taken, I would not fault any law enforcement officer for taking the report serious and acting accordingly. Child protective service investigators are not law enforcement officers. Investigations of criminal activity are conducted by law enforcement. It is my opinion, that law enforcement has the legal authority to conduct investigation of child abuse allegations and they are morally obligated to conduct such investigations.
It is fact that men in their forties and fifties married and impregnated sixteen year old girls. I do not know any reason why old men would need to marry and have sex with sixteen-year-old girls. If they want to have multiple wives I guess that is a personal and religious issue. However, why do these multiple wives have to be with under age girls?
I think it is rather decadent and perverted for old men to have these practices. The mothers who allowed their daughters to be forced in to these marriages failed in properly protecting their daughters. In my opinion, these marriages with young girls amount to sexual abuse by the supposed spouse and neglect by the parents. They should have their children removed from their authority and care.
Everyday children are being abused in one manner or another. Child abusers like to work in anonymity. There needs to be a system in place that will protect children from abuse. I do not find anything wrong for law enforcement officers to conduct a criminal investigation when they receive a report of potential child abuse.
Personally I am surprised that a lawyer could not figure out the basics of criminal investigations of child abuse. What are they teaching lawyers now days? The greater concern is all the people who called this national conservative radio talk show host expressing discontent with the actions of the state of Texas.
Regardless, I just wanted to clarify the point since listening to this person annoyed me. She actually tried to make the case that maybe the Texas law enforcement officers were overreaching their legal power in taking these children away from their mothers.
Even if the original call was made dishonestly, today law enforcement officers have information of child abuse. This means they are obligated by Texas state law to protect these children.
I am sure many of these abuse young girls will be cooperating in the investigation. In addition, after all is said and done there will be no question that these men abused these girls and the girls mothers were neglectful in their responsibility to their children.